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Boys Basketball
The 2025-26 boys’ basketball team is looking to continue its record of excellence. Since 2020, the Nighthawks have won 99 games, an average of 16.5 wins per season, and four Miami Valley Conference Championships. This year’s squad is looking to add to those numbers.
Several players will step into bigger and different roles this season after losing six seniors, including Bryce Snell, who averaged 23.8 points per game, and Elijah Guttman, who averaged 9 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. Seniors Trey Blum and Evan Robsinon return as captains this season. Robinson was a constant in last year’s rotation, playing in 24 games while averaging 5.3 ppg and 5 rpg. Blum led the team in three-point percentage and will be a quick and detrimental guard for the Nighthawks.
Those two will find help from Levi Guttman ’27 and Pace Guido ’28. Guido is a lights-out three-point shooter and is gearing up for a big sophomore year. He averaged 5.2 points per game with the second-best three-point percentage on the team. Guttman is an all-around basketball player, coming off a tremendous football season in which he led his team to its 5th straight MVC Gray Division Championship and was named MVC Offensive Player of the Year last year. Standing at 6’2”, he is a dominant force on the floor. Last season, he was the fourth-leading scorer, third-leading rebounder, and averaged 1.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Ezra Cohen ‘27 and Boden Guido ‘27 are the final two returners from last year’s squad and are looking to make a big impact as well.
This year’s newcomers feature a multitude of JV players and Gianni Zeljo ’27, who is in his first year at CCDS. Last season, he played in Monterey, CA, where he averaged 21.9 ppg and 9 rpg. He will be a great addition to the team and will help fill the absence of the leading scorers who graduated.
Coach Greg Ross is looking forward to another exciting year of Nighthawks basketball:
“We have some experienced guys that know what it takes to compete at the varsity level, and I’m expecting those guys to be leaders for us this year. Our success will come down to what type of team we can become on the defensive end of the floor and how well we rebound the basketball. The word that I always use with my players is ‘compete’! If we are competing at a high level and giving incredible effort, the scoreboard will take care of itself.”
The Nighthawks will face some dominant teams this season, including Seven Hills (20-3) and MVCA (20-6), who tied as MVC Gray Division Champs with a 10-2 conference record. The boys open their season at home vs. Clermont Northeastern on Saturday, November 20, at 7:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball
The girls’ basketball team is gearing up for an exciting season with some familiar faces stepping back onto the court this year. Last year’s team fielded three seniors and seven underclassmen. Six of those players are returning.
Juniors Nicole Hardesty, Audrey de Alarcon, and Roxy Vollmer will return for their third varsity season with the Nighthawks. Last season, the trio led the team in almost every statistical category, including points, assists, steals, and blocks.
Hardesty, a dominant three-sport athlete for CCDS, averaged 13.4 points per game, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.7 steals. She was the 7th leading scorer in the MVC. Vollmer, also a dominant three-sport athlete, led the Nighthawks in rebounds last season and is a huge presence in the paint. De Alarcon, a nimble guard, led the team in assists and averaged 8.3 ppg. She scored in double figures five times last season, including a career high 24 against the 2024 OHSAA DIII State Champions, Purcell Marian.
The other three returners were freshmen last year and will look to step into bigger roles this season. Charli Fangman ’28 played a huge role and started in 15 games last season. She was the 4th leading rebounder on the team with 3.2 rpg. Lana Miller ’28 and Gwen Ramage ’28 will help power this team as well.
Several newcomers will make their varsity debut: Alyssa Easter ’26, Noor Elkasaby ’26, Emily Falkingham ’28, Shy Harris ’29, Ece Karakus ’29. Gabi Santiago ’29, and Kate Thompson ’29.
Easter, de Alarcon, Hardesty, Vollmer, Ramage, Harris, and Thompson were all varsity starters for the girls’ soccer team this fall. They won the 2025 District Championship and are hoping to get that same result on the basketball court this winter.
This young team sits in a competitive conference and will face some tough opponents this year, including Purcell Marian, who won their fourth consecutive OHSAA State Championship last season, CHCA, MVCA and Cincinnati Christian, all who finished the 24-25 season with a win percentage above .700. The Nighthawks season will begin on Friday, November 21 at 6:00 p.m. as they face St. Bernard-Elmwood Place at home.
Gymnastics
The gymnastics team is ready to kick off another exciting season! The team returns three gymnasts after losing just one senior from last season. Hayden Zimmerman ’26 and Jessica Chen ’26 lead the helm this year. Gabrielle Gonzalez ’28 returns for her second year with the Nighthawks. Gearing up for his 36th season as head coach, Steve Conner is excited for this season:
“This is a solid group with a lot of upsides. They’re looking to move up in the city and southwest Ohio rankings after an impressive finish last season.”
During the 2024-25 season, the team finished 5th at the City Championship Meet and 12th at Districts out of 30 schools. Zimmerman is an integral part of this team and the top returning scorer for the Nighthawks. Last season, she placed 3rd on bars, 4th in the all-around, and 6th on vault at the City Championship Meet.
The team has several newcomers: Emily Franzosa ’27, Ann Wilson ’27, Carolyn Shafer ’28, Madison Lee ’28, and Harmoni Walls-Enoch ’28.
The team hosts three meets this year, including the CCDS Cup and the City Championship Meet. They will face some tough competition from much larger schools as they compete in the Centerville, Turpin, and Anderson Invitational as well as the DI District Championship Meet at Lakota East.
Swimming
The 2025-26 swim team is ready for another excellent season in the pool. The team returns with six seniors, all who were state qualifiers and are looking to make another trip to Canton this year. All six seniors have also shattered program records: Jason Starodub (100yd backstroke, 100yd butterfly, 200yd medley relay), Weichu Wang (100yd breaststroke, 200yd medley relay), Delaney Gorman (100yd butterfly, 200yd free relay), Greta Varga (200 yd free relay), Zsofia Varga (200yd free relay), and Katherine Connelly (200yd free relay). This group has high hopes to lead this young team to a successful season.
It will be a very competitive year for the girls’ side as they welcome back six members from last year’s team and three newcomers: Reese Garringer ’27, Talia Gholston ’29, and Gemma Raimondo ’29. Returning to the pool is Emerson Kohler ’28, whose specialty is the 200yd freestyle. She is consistent and determined; she clocks a 36-second lap for each 50yd. Margot Edmondson ’28 has been working hard this offseason to drop 10 seconds off her freestyle events. Returning from the boys’ side is Oliver Jeffries ’27, who has been putting in long hours in the pool in hopes of another return to State.
This team is in good hands with a coaching staff who have over 60 years of experience. Head Coach Katie Slovacek focuses on technique and mental fortitude because she knows that swimming is a mental sport. She’s looking forward to this season:
“While our swim program might not be the largest in the city, we pride ourselves on being the most disciplined. Our wall skills, technique, and breathing habits separate us from other programs in the area. Swimming is a rare sport that mixes individual excellence with team ramifications. While most of our swimmers strive for best times and to outcompete each other, they must also come together on relays to win gold.”
The team motto:
“Good, Better, Best,
Never let it rest,
Until your Good is Better
And your Better is Best!”
The team will race in the pool against some talented programs. They compete in the Coaches Classic on January 18-17. The MVC Championship Meet is on Saturday, February 7, with the OHSAA Tournament beginning soon after on the 13th.
Girls Wrestling
It’s an exciting year for CCDS wrestling as we welcome our very first female wrestling team! Nicole McNeal ’25 was the first female wrestler to take the mat for CCDS. She was on the wrestling team for three years and was the first female wrestler to receive a varsity letter! She was an integral part in helping expose female students to the sport. Now, Dominique Makasiar ’29 and Erica Peterson ’26 will represent CCDS to form the first female-only wrestling team at CCDS! It’s an exciting milestone for the school and wrestling program to welcome these female athletes to the varsity level, as both wrestled at the middle school level for several years. The team is coached by Theresa Hirschauer and there is no better leader to help navigate the first year of the female program! Coach Hirsch is “excited to grow, learn, and compete in one of the fastest-growing female high school sports.” The team competes in their first tournament on December 6 at Western Brown!